Bree A McIntyre

The Hexing Stone Bree A McIntyre

Ever since Akiva's birth, her mother and grandmother have done everything they could to make sure Akiva fit in with the people of their tiny Madonian village: dyeing her red hair black, hiding evidence of Akiva's bursts of air and fire magic, and coaching her to be less outspoken. Akiva plays along because she sees what happens to people who stand out: The local priest of Ejavah orders them to be stoned to death. Then marauders from Revven attack, and they've brought their sorcerers. Akiva unleashes her magic to fight back. The priest witnesses her duel with an enemy sorcerer and tries to arrest her as a heretic. Dodging the priest and the frightened villagers, Akiva runs toward her family's burning cottage to evacuate her family. She can't even get inside. With the priest and marauders alike closing in, and already accused of heresy against Ejavah, Akiva breaks another religious law and calls upon fairies to save her family. A portal to Faerie opens in response to Akiva's ancient chant. But instead of someone coming out, Akiva is yanked in. Akiva meets the fairy princess Gaylia, who informs Akiva the ancient chant is actually a binding contract. The terms: Gaylia's services in exchange for anything Gaylia desires. Gaylia commands Akiva to retrieve a lost fairy relic called the Hexing Stone before Gaylia's sister can retrieve it. Akiva finds herself embroiled in the backstabbing intrigues of fairy royalty. As she races against the enemy agents recruited by Gaylia's sister, she learns that the attack on her village is part of a wider plot.